"Dipping"... cool new option... or tacky... your thoughts ???

friend had dash pieces for his 37 chevy sedan delivery dipped, they look beautiful and I am tempted to do it too.

 

Having this dash in my Hudson and having done stamping work in the past I have a hard time believing that these panels were woodgrained before being run through various press stages. Things that make you go Hhmmm.
I will say though that the underside of my dashboard that never got paint
or protection looks as clean and rust-free as the day it was stamped some
sixty odd years ago.

 

Thanks Jdee, 'Fink, and chop. I appreciate the props. From the FWIW dept, all of those jobs you see were under a grand. The burl match was close, but under. When you consider the product it sometimes seems like a bargain. As far as "...what it might look like..." I've always had a simple solution for that and it's worked since 73. Also consider that pricing starts at a part that's ready for paint. Metal work and repairs are extra at a competitive hourly rate. How does it hold up? I've done some stuff that's over 20yrs old that I've had the pleasure to see in recent years. A little finessing with some Meguires 3 and light coat of wax...just like new again. I use automotive grade top coats and it will last as long as your fenders will.


Yo 'Fink, come and see me soon. I got an idea...

 

can you give ballpark cost on a job like this? Thanks!

 

Wow.

 

Very interesting process and comments.........


Ray

 

That wood grain dash and moulding looks good but DAMN look at that upholstery, it doesn't get any better than that.............

Interior is on post#20

 

Highlander, you do excellent work too!

4woody, I like your dash. It still has a perfect art deco look.

Do we know for sure that Poteet's(?) '32 is Hydro'd? I saw it as SEMA and the interior was stunning.

 

It would certainly be easier to roll on the pattern ( as stated in the factory instructions) onto a flat sheet rather than a finished stamping. it is possible to protect the panel with sheets of _____ while it is stamped. I don't know what was used pre-war, but these days there are all kinds of plastics and urethanes that would work. and the press action was probably more gentle than slam banging out a fender.

 

lot of inspiring pics here both dipped & brushed... thanks for all the info everyone

 

Friend of mine has a company that does it-they have video on their website that shows the process. http://www.northtexashydrographics.com/

I've seen the valve cover in the video in person. It (and a bunch of other parts on the car it was done on) looks EXACTLY like carbon fiber.

 

As a cabinet maker, I want my stuff made out of real wood,

no matter the species

 

Highlander, you are a true artist; very impressive.

All the interior garnish mouldings and dash are woodgrained originally in my 48 Chevy. I think it looks nice when new. If I ever get to redoing the interior, they will either get the new woodgrain hand painted (if I have the coin,) or nickel plated with brushed finish. Considering I can do the plating myself, I'm leaning towards that option.

 

Maybe I can help everybody understand the woodgraining process of hydrographics or aka water transfer printing. I only have a short clip that was put up on you tube and you will have to sit through a short lead in of or shop. The results are fantasic and you can't tell it from any hand done woodgraining. There are no dots or any other differences. The turn around time is 3 to 4 weeks instead of months or years and the cost is usually less expensive.

Is it good enough for Roy Brizzo--YES
Is it good enough for Steve's Auto Restoration--YES
Is it good enough for Lobeck's Hotrods--YES
Is it good enough for Possie--YES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOdXxAA65Xk

If anyone would like a demo in our shop feel free to call me at work 1 860 872 1932

 

Where in The USA can I buy that Film? I am A decorative finish/ Car guy?
I want to give it a try Thanks Jdee

 

I believe the company that did my dash used this supplier.

Due to the many (Painted) base coat possibilities there examples don't scratch the surface (pardon the expression) of the final results you can get.

http://immersiongraphics.com/

 

Yo 'Fink, come and see me soon. I got an idea...[/QUOTE]


I need to do this Boss, Been so tied up at work, and family with My Daughter out of school..and trying to wrap up this A so I can have fun with it this summer..

I'll Give ya a shout

 

Thanks 4woody I'll give them a go.
Jdee
??
Seems like a service not supplies?

 

Hydro-dipping is to woodgraining what cut-vinyl graphics are to pinstriping. If we were talking stick-on flames people would be freaking out, but for some reason dashboards are ok for computer generated stick-on graphics? I don't get it. Streetrod ugliness IMO.

 

They may do finished product too, but under "Tech Services" they talk about helping their licensees achieve the right end result, and developing the products and processes.

When I was figuring out what to do with my dash I was sent to that web site by the installer (applicator?) who was doing the actual work, in order to pick out a pattern.

 

But If its good enough for xxxx its the new red
Thats HOT

Jdee


"Big A
Re: "Dipping"... cool new option... or tacky... your thoughts ???
Hydro-dipping is to woodgraining what cut-vinyl graphics are to pinstriping. If we were talking stick-on flames people would be freaking out, but for some reason dashboards are ok for computer generated stick-on graphics? I don't get it. Streetrod ugliness IMO."

 

OK I'm goofing around I have seen some real neat stuff done with that film.
Jdee

 

The "Dip" process is how the original woodgraining was done in the auto industry. Not positive but the auto industry either developed that technology or the picture frame business in the late 1800's did.
Used very early on in the car industry, including the lowest of the low, the Fords, Chevys, and Plymouths, entry level cars with high tech touchs inside sells.
Nobody really believes they had rows and rows of artists on stools graining dashes by hand...DO THEY?

 

JDee can tell you how the factory did it back then.

 

You got us there smart guy we would never use tools made in the USA to do our own woodgraining work

We sent out to Guangdong China (Mainland) to get the PVA film and had big tanks back than.
I can remember. Roto Gravure Printing it was called I think to get the pattern on the PVA film.
I hear talk about those hard days at the woodgraining plants-- sad to say the least.

There were a number of woodgraining processes.
I have never said my way was the only way It was brushed first ,some bad films and then rollers. 40 Buicks-- why did they turn green? film did not hold up, ink pattern to thin... film turned green. Not that modern computer printed films would do that I don't know ,well we will see? Where are you getting your FILM?

Really we do restorations here in my shop.
Its not for the drive through crowd, no fries and you have to wait!
If you can get woodgraining while waiting for a BigMac do it...
Jdee
PS: I see some really cool Hydro stuff out there
My Honda needs some carbonfiber wheels
Just goofing hydro guys lol

 

Ok there was a film But Dipped I don't think so.
Was Nitrocellulose I believe and they used a solvent to dissolved the film
much like Hydro .. But dipped? I would like to see the old time method of dipping.
That would be cool. Save me some time
Jdee

 

You're on target there Jdee. There was a celluloid decal for the more exotic grains and it did dissolve when topcoated. 41 Cadillac IPs were done that way as well as the mid 30s Packards where burl was involved. Lines of guys/gals with brushes? Some vendors did exactly that! Their workers could do an average window mldg in a matter of seconds. Production volumes weren't as high as today's outputs but enough to keep up. Modern Manufacturing, Penninsular Slate, Continental, all vendors to the OEMs and there were more than those. Also, some designs had a copyright. 37 Ford for sure was and you'll find the symbol on the back of the glovebox door. I'll post a pic or 2 tonight of te latest from my brushes. I'm very appreciative of this post. It inspired me to knock out a couple jobs, not to mention Father's Day. I spent it to old music from the swing days and my brushes. Film @ 11:00...NO, not that kind of film!

 

It is all good stuff. It is interesting to see all the different ways woodgraining is done. The first Dashboards were just wood boards to keep rocks and junk from hitting you in the teeth from when you dashed the horses.
So woodgraining was a neat way to keep the dashboard
looking traditional. They even did bicycle wheels
and lots of other things back in the day.

 

That looks pretty cool, but now I wanna make my F1 dash look like it was made out of granite...

 

These guys have a bunch of nice patterns.
http://www.liquidconceptsus.com/film.html